Library of the World's Best Literature/The First Smile of Spring

While to their perverse work Men run panting, March that laughs, in spite of showers, Quietly gets Spring ready.

For the little daisies, Slyly, when all sleep, He irons little collars And chisels gold studs.

Through the orchard and the vineyard, He goes, cunning hair-dresser, With a swan-puff, And powders snow-white the almond-tree.

Nature rests in her bed; He goes down to the garden And laces the rosebuds In their green velvet corsets.

While composing solfeggios That he sings in a low tone to the blackbirds, He strews the meadows with snowdrops And the woods with violets.

By the side of the cress in the brook Where drinks the stag, with listening ear, With his concealed hand he scatters The silver bells of the lilies of the valley.

'''. . .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  ''' Then, when his work is done And his reign about to end, On the threshold of April, turning his head, He says, Spring, you may come!

Premier Sourire du Printemps Первая улыбка весны (Готье/Гумилёв) Первая улыбка весны (Готье/Брюсов) Ожидание весны (Готье/Чюмина)